Friday, December 30, 2011

The Detroit Dog Rescue has received a one point five million dollar gift to help build their no kill animal shelter from an anonymous donor .

The founders of the shelter are filmmaker Monica Martino and hip-hop artist Daniel (Hush) Carlisle. Hopefully this shelter will survive with so many shelters closing.

Monica Martino the Co Founder and CEO of Detroit Dog Rescue said: This donation is just the beginning, while Hush and I were working on the streets of Detroit, we saw firsthand the true scope and scale of the stray dog situation. This problem in Detroit is an epidemic and the system that is in place to control it is broken. The first step is to build a no-kill shelter.

The hip-hop artist Daniel (Hush) Carlisle said: Detroit Dog Rescue is much more than just a shelter. It’s an organization that will succeed through community outreach, economic assistance programs and education, because we cannot end the stray dog problem without the citizens of Detroit.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

In the spirit of the season, WellPet, LLC, makers of premium natural pet food and treats brands Wellness®, Holistic Select® and Old Mother Hubbard®, spread some holiday cheer to pets across the country who are awaiting adoption. Through its charitable arm, the WellPet Foundation, the company provided more than 110,000 pounds of food and treats to shelters and rescue organizations during the month of December – roughly enough food to feed 30,000 pets in need. The Foundation is committed to giving back to the world we share with our pets by supporting organizations and activities dedicated to the well-being of dogs and cats. Donation recipients included:

Beagle Freedom Project -- Beagle Freedom Project is a project of ARME (Animal Rescue, Media & Education), a non-profit 501(c)(3) dedicated to rescuing animals in need. The group recently rescued 41 beagles from a Spanish laboratory and brought them back to the United States for adoption, where they received Old Mother Hubbard treats to help with their training.

National Greyhound Adoption Program -- National Greyhound Adoption Program was founded in Philadelphia, PA in 1989 to help find loving, adoptive homes for former racing greyhounds. The group also aims to provide superior knowledge and support for greyhound adopters and other adoption groups, educate the public and spread awareness about the plight of the greyhound, and provide specialized medical care specifically geared towards the greyhound. The program received over 30,000 pounds of food to help care for greyhounds awaiting adoption.

Bideawee -- Bideawee, which means "stay awhile," in Scottish, is one of the country's oldest and most respected animal welfare and pet adoption organizations. Founded in 1903 by Mrs. Flora Kibbe, Bideawee has been providing shelter, care and compassion to homeless animals in helping them to find their forever homes for over 100 years. Bideawee is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) humane animal organization and 100 percent of Bideawee's funding comes from private sources. The group provided Wellness treats to pups who had their photos taken with Santa, as well as new adoptive families. In addition, treats were provided to Bideawee's pet therapy volunteers.

Pet Rescue Bank -- The Rescue Bank(SM) Pet Food Distribution Program supports the pet rescue community with a network of regional affiliates – pet food distribution centers. These centers receive truckload donations scheduled by Rescue Bank(SM) and distribute pallet quantities to qualified groups. Their Pet Food Distribution Program allows rescue organizations to transfer part of their food budget to much needed services such as spay/neuter or other medical bills. "You have no idea how much the donation of Wellness Pet Food helps us. Through our national network, we're able to get healthy, high-quality food to small rescues who otherwise wouldn't have the resources to attract major donors," said Elizabeth Asher, Executive Director of Rescue Bank. "With this donation, they're able to dedicate more resources toward spaying, neutering, and rescuing needy pets."

Adopt a Boxer Rescue -- Adopt A Boxer Rescue is an all-volunteer charitable organization formed to rescue, rehabilitate, and re-home unwanted and abandoned boxer dogs within the northeast United States. Working within Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, the group's efforts include hands-on rescue and education. Its volunteers strive to inform others about the realities of pet ownership, promote neutering, and encourage responsible care. More than 30,000 pounds of food were donated to help care for boxers throughout the rescue's northeast network.

Our Lil' Bit of Heaven Animal Rescue and Sanctuary – Our Lil' Bit of Heaven is an Indiana-based no-kill, non-profit, animal rescue and sanctuary. "This donation of Holistic Select pet food will help us get through the tough winter months," said Joyce Deckard, director of the rescue. "We are very strict on what the fur kids here eat and it is wonderful to have a donation received of such high quality food for them."

Church Community Services – Church Community Services of Elkhart, IN is a faith-based interdenominational non-profit agency that assists people in crisis and empowers them to move out of poverty. Recently, the organization has seen an increase in individuals in need of pet food in addition to human food pantry donations.

Companion Golden Retriever Rescue -- Companion Golden Retriever Rescue located in West Jordan, Utah, is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of homeless Golden Retrievers that works to place loving Golden Retrievers into permanent homes. The rescue received Old Mother Hubbard treats to help feed and reward the Golden Retrievers currently in its care.

Best Friends Animal Society -- Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. The sanctuary received nearly 18,000 pounds of food and treats from WellPet, including Wellness Small Breed Just for Puppy food to help feed its littlest residents and Old Mother Hubbard treats.

"WellPet has an unwavering commitment to providing the very best for the pets who depend on us," said Chanda Leary-Coutu, Senior Manager, Marketing Communications. "We are proud to donate to these worthy organizations to help sustain the dogs and cats in their care while they wait to meet their new families."

About WellPet, LLC: WellPet is home to the family of premium pet food brands including Wellness®, Old Mother Hubbard®, Eagle Pack® and Holistic Select®. For more than 100 years, WellPet has delivered on the promise of doing whatever it takes to make the healthiest natural products for the pets that depends on us. Today, our team of animal lovers, nutritionists and vets at WellPet are committed to carrying forth our strong heritage, continuing to find new ways to bring innovation, nutritional excellence and product quality to our family of natural brands, always putting pet health first.

About The WellPet Foundation®: Responsibility, Passion, Commitment

At WellPet, we are committed to giving back to the world we share with our pets. Through the WellPet Foundation, we support organizations and activities that promote the power of natural nutrition and the benefits of healthy, active lifestyles. Learn more at www.wellpet.com/wellpet-foundation.aspx.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Abaxis, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing point of care instrumentation and consumables to the medical, research and veterinary markets, announced today its Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL) Division, based in Olathe, Kansas, is now offering a quantitative antibody test for canine Lyme disease. The new canine Lyme test invented and developed by Abaxis, Inc., measures a combination of antibodies to peptides which mimic certain antigens of the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete. These antibodies are not found in vaccinated or non-infected patients.

Dr. Kenneth Aron, Chief Technology Officer at Abaxis, commented, "We have utilized advances in peptide chemistry and immunology to design a robust laboratory-based test that can distinguish an active Lyme infection from immunity based on vaccination. These advances allow a definitive diagnosis which is required for reference laboratory performed confirmation test."

The new quantitative Lyme test can be used as a standalone diagnostic test to determine infection status or efficacy of treatment. It can also be used as a quantitative confirmation test for the soon to be released VetScan Lyme Rapid Test which is currently under development.

Mark Patterson, President of AVRL added, "The Lyme quantitative antibody test is an exciting addition to the more than 500 tests that are already offered at our new, state of the art facility. It is also a great example of how the Abaxis point-of-care products are complemented by the full service laboratory that we have developed. The Lyme quantitative antibody test is the first of what we expect to be many new and unique assays for the veterinary community."

About Abaxis

Abaxis develops, manufactures, markets and sells portable blood analysis systems for use in any veterinary or human patient-care setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent measurements. The system consists of a compact, 5.1 kilogram (11.2 pounds), portable analyzer and a series of single-use plastic discs, called reagent discs that contain all the chemicals required to perform a panel of up to 13 tests on veterinary patients and 14 tests on human patients. The system can be operated with minimal training and performs multiple routine tests on whole blood, serum or plasma samples. The system provides test results in less than 12 minutes with the precision and accuracy equivalent to a clinical laboratory analyzer. The veterinary business also provides to the animal health and research market a line of hematology instruments for point-of-care complete blood counts (CBC), a specialty instrument to screen for and detect clotting disorders and to measure equine fibrinogen levels, a handheld instrument for the rapid assessment of certain critical care tests and rapid point-of-care tests for Heartworm infections in dogs, Parvovirus and Giardia. Abaxis, through its AVRL Division, provides routine laboratory testing as well as specialty testing for veterinarians nationwide. This state-of-the-art commercial laboratory will be the hub of the Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL).

Monday, December 26, 2011

There has been an outbreak of the Parvovirus in Rugby in the last few weeks leaving two dogs dead already.

Simon Daniel the director of Rainsbrook Vets said: This is the highest number of cases we've seen at once for a long time. I can't remember seeing this many at any time over the last five years or so. It is a serious and potentially fatal stomach infection but can easily prevented with vaccinations.

Then you have the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center which is another no-kill animal shelter which might be closing their doors too if they don't get any donations.

The director Barbara Keegan said: In today's economy, many folks are coming forward to surrender their pets due to foreclosures, evictions, lack of employment, etc. With owners in such dire straits, we are not able to charge our normal surrender fees of $100 to $150, which barely cover the cost of housing, food and medical needs for these animals. Some folks cannot make any type of surrender donation and yet we still help them. These are desperate times for many people, and yet we cannot turn our back on these animals who end up here through no fault of their own.

At least one good thing happened when the Pennsylvania SPCA rescued twenty six dogs from an illegal breeders named James Hines and Denekei Lawson.

The director of Humane Law Enforcement George Bengal said: We've had the owners of this property under investigation for the past five months. Due to the amount of complaints we've received about these suspects selling sick dogs, we were glad that we were able to rescue them from the conditions they were living in.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Do you remember the two dogs that were poisoned by strychnine laced meatballs in Firestone, CO, well now the Firestone Police have arrested Travis and Tesla Dougherty (dogs owners) neighbor Joseph Donald Losinski.

So now Joseph Donald Losinski has been arrested and charged with suspicion of two counts of felony aggravated animal cruelty for killing the two dogs.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Petfinder.com Announces Most Popular and Most Unusual Adoptable Pet Names of 2011

Move over Fido, Buddy is officially the new "top-dog" name. Today, Petfinder.com, the largest online database of adoptable pets, announced its 2011 ranking of the most popular and most unusual names, with an extra category for TV and celebrity "name-a-likes." For the fifth year in a row, "Buddy" barks at the top as the most trending name for adoptable dogs in 2011, while "Lucy" once again proves to be the purrfect No. 1 choice for adoptable cats.

The top five most popular names for dogs have all remained the same this year, while cats are a different story: "Smokey" and "Charlie" sniffed their way up to No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, while "Midnight" jumped down to No. 10 after coming in No. 2 for adoptable felines last year. As people everywhere swarmed the theaters and the Twilight saga continued to unfold in 2011, the popularity of the name "Bella" for both adoptable dogs and cats has remained strong since 2010.

2011 Top 10 Most Popular Dog Names

2011 Top 10 Most Popular Cat Names

1. Buddy (15,184)

1. Lucy (4,195)

2. Max (13,810)

2. Smokey (4,105)

3. Daisy (12,948)

3. Bella (3,978)

4. Bella (11,773)

4. Charlie (3,752)

5. Lucy (11,418)

5. Tiger (3,735)

6. Molly (11,049)

6. Oreo (3,574)

7. Charlie (10,607)

7. Daisy (3,371)

8. Jack (9,949)

8. Molly (3,355)

9. Sadie (9,232)

9. Max (3,346)

10. Rocky (8,475)

10. Midnight (3,273)

Because they are just too cute to ignore, Petfinder.com also handpicked the most unusual, wacky and celebrity-themed names of adoptable pets for 2011 from nearly 300 submissions by shelters and rescue groups across North America. This year's top creativity honors go to "Dodgy Wodgy Schnookum Doodle" and "Barry Meow-nilow."

2011 Most Unusual Adoptable Pet Names

2011 Best Celebrity Name-A-Likes

1. Dodgy Wodgy Schnookum Doodle

1. Barry Meow-nilow

2. Polly Picklepuss

2. Katy Purry

3. Sukimayapoo

3. Ally McBeagle

4. Iben Hooked

4. Brad the Pit

5. Blue Sparkles McGillicutty

5. Rascal Catts

6. Killer the Dog Dominating Declawed Cat

6. Ringo Starr

7. Purr-etzle

7. Cindy Clawford

8. Fluff Dog Millionaire

8. Cindy Dogford

9. Jimmy Chews

9. Vera Fang

10. Ishkabibble

10. Lady Gaga

"Everybody loves to have a Buddy, but many shelters and rescue groups give their adoptable pets creative names to help them stand out from the crowd," says Betsy Banks Saul, co-founder of Petfinder. "Their names can give a peek into their personalities. For instance, 'Killer the Dog Dominating Declawed Cat' speaks for itself. But if your new cat doesn't respond to his shelter-given name or you can't imagine yourself hollering for 'Polly Picklepuss' at the dog park, never fear. Animal behaviorists tell us it's okay to change their names. Here's how: Add their new name to their old name for a few weeks, then gradually phase out the old one."

About Petfinder.com

Petfinder.com is the largest online, searchable database of animals that need permanent homes. With more than 360,000 adoptable pets from over 13,600 animal shelters and rescue groups throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico, Petfinder.com has facilitated more than 17 million adoptions since it was launched in 1996. In addition to being an adoption database, Petfinder.com is an all-inclusive resource guide for how to select the right family pet and build a successful, life-long relationship. Thanks to its sponsors, the site is free to both visitors and to its animal placement organization members. Exclusive sponsors are BISSELL Homecare, Inc., a manufacturer of home cleaning and floor care products, PETCO, a national pet supply retailer that sponsors in-store adoptions and provides coupon books for new adopters, The Animal Rescue Site, PetFirst Healthcare, the exclusive pet insurance provider for Petfinder.com, and Merial, maker of the number one veterinary-recommended flea and tick preventative FRONTLINE(r), and heartworm preventative HEARTGARD(r).

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Best in Show honors and $50,000 in prize money went to GCH CH Jaset's Satisfaction, a Standard Poodle known affectionately as "London" owned by Beth Harris, Michel Molnar and Jamie Danburg of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Before a crowd at the Orange County Convention Center Sunday night "London" was crowned "National Champion" by Best in Show judge Mrs. Polly Smith after a weekend of intense canine competition.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship – recognized as one of the most prestigious dog shows in the world – joined a range of canine sporting events all under one roof, including the AKC Agility Invitational and the AKC National Obedience Invitational. These highly anticipated events featured more than 4,900 dogs vying for "top dog" bragging rights and more than $225,000.

The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship will be telecast on ABC Network Television on Saturday, February 4, 2012. Check local listings for airtimes.

Best in Show Finalists and Group Winners
After winning Best of Breed competitions the following top dogs went on to win in their respective groups and compete for Best in Show:

Other top-dogs awarded during the two-day event included the following:

Eukanuba World Challenge
This international event featured 44 top-winning dogs from six continents. GCH CH Propwash Reckon, an Australian Shepherd representing the United States and owned by Leslie Frank and Judy Harrington was awarded a hefty purse of $10,000 along with the title of "Eukanuba World Challenge Champion." "Reckon" also won the 2010 AKC/Eukanuba National Championship!

Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in Show
GCH CH Thaon's Mowgli, an Afghan Hound known as "Mowgli" was awarded Best Bred-By-Exhibitor in Show, edging out more than 1,300 dogs representing 35 percent of the total competitors entered in the "Bred-By Exhibitor" competition. Mowgli's owners Jay Hafford, James Blanchard, A. Sterner & D. Rogers of Valley Center, CA were awarded a $15,000 cash prize. Breeders Jay Hafford and James Blanchard are participants in the AKC Breeder of Merit program.

Junior Showmanship
In the Junior Showmanship competition, for handlers from between 9 to 18 years of age, Emma Grayson Echols with her Yorkshire Terrier "Tucker" was awarded the coveted title of Best Junior Handler, along with a $2,000 scholarship.

Agility and Obedience Competitions
The 2011 AKC National Obedience Invitational and the AKC Agility Invitational were held in conjunction with the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship. The two events demonstrated the highest level of training and teamwork between dog and handler and were the culmination of thousands of trials held throughout the year. For the first time ever, obedience and agility competitions for junior handlers were also held.

AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition
Juniors who participated in the inaugural AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition competed in three age divisions (Junior: Under 12 on the day of the event; Intermediate: 12 and under 15; and Senior: 15 and under 18) in Beginner Novice and/or Novice classes twice, based on their AKC obedience accomplishments.

Five agility dogs and their owners – one dog/handler team in each of the five height categories – were crowned at the AKC Agility Invitational, which brought together more than 590 dogs from across the country and beyond.

AKC Juniors Agility Competition
Juniors who participated in the inaugural AKC Juniors Agility Competition competed in either the Junior Excellent or Superior Classes, depending on whether they had achieved an agility title.

Placing first in their height division (8", 12", 16", 20" and 24" respectively) in the Junior Excellent class were:

8"- "Tinkerbelle," a Papillon handled by Chase Koetter

12"- "Taufie," a Shetland Sheepdog handled by Anneka Mikel Dahle

16"- "Bud," a Shetland Sheepdog handled by William Zachary Freedman

20"- "Seacrett," a Border Collie handled by Kaitlyn Dreese

24"- "Dash," a Belgian Malinois handled by Kyle Scripko

Placing first in their height division (8", 16", 20" and 24" respectively) in the Junior Superior class were:

8"- "Tad," a Beagle handled by Clayton Cook

16"- "Fuze," a Shetland Sheepdog handled by Brooke Netherland

20"- "Karli Renay," a Border Collie handed by Kaitlyn Dreese

24"- "Sniffy," an All-American Dog handled by Steven Pink

The American Kennel Club (AKC), founded in 1884, maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world. Its rules and regulations govern more than 20,000 canine competitions each year.

Eukanuba offers the most complete food lineup, delivering nutrition that is customized by breed and breed size as well as health and performance requirements. Eukanuba is a division of Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), and you can visit us on the Web at http://www.eukanuba.com or visit Iams at http://www.Iams.com.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

My question is how can the Montgomery County Animal Control and the Montgomery County Sheriff's not arrest an animal abuser who has left his dog to die in his back yard and has still not buried the poor dog.

The dead dogs neighbor Linda Lindemood said: That poor little dog was malnourished. He was tied to a fence with a cable and you could see his backbone. I called animal control and asked them to come out and see if they could take care of it before it was too late. Now he's dead and he's still chained to the fence. It breaks my heart.

photo by Eric S. Swist

Linda Lindemood went on to say: All I want is for him to be buried, That little dog is just sitting there getting rained on; it's not right. The owner's walking back and forth from his house to his car, not doing a thing about it. I just want him to be buried. That's the right thing to do.

So why is nobody arresting this animal abuser and how come the poor dog hasn't been buried ? I don't care what their excuses are, at least they could bury the dog.

“Because of recent increases in dog allergies, many people are looking for corn-free, wheat-free and gluten-free dog food,” Zamzow said. “Dog treats with cereal grains such as wheat and corn cause a variety of dog allergies, including itchy skin and ears, and excessive weight gain.

The My Buddy Butch show runs on radio stations, including satellite radio, in selected markets across the nation. It also can be heard on the Internet at mybuddybutch.com.

“We had requests for healthy dog biscuits because so many dog treats have questionable ingredients, including chemical preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and ethoxyquin,” Zamzow explained. “Several dog trainers who use our all-natural, gluten-free dog food, asked us for an easy-to-feed healthy dog treat to use in training.”

The gluten-free dog food, as well as all other Dynamite animal feeds, is formulated according to standards of the American Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. The paw-shaped, natural dog biscuits cost $19.95 for a 2.5-pound bag.

A family-owned business that has specialized in animal nutrition for four generations, Dynamite Specialty Products makes products for virtually every member of the animal kingdom. It has long developed all-natural dog food and nutritional supplements for show dogs across the country and prize-winning racehorses. Its specialists in dog nutrition and animal nutrition can recommend exactly what vitamins, minerals and other supplements best support dogs with allergies, horses with laminitis, cats whose owners make their own food, and cows with digestive issues.

Dynamite has worked with veterinarians and university researchers to produce specialty foods to correct nutritional deficiencies in animals ranging from Canadian muskoxen to peregrine falcons to zoo exotics.

Dynamite uses only natural ingredients, made in the United States for better quality control. Throughout its history of making natural dog food, it has always looked at alternatives to animal by-products, antibiotics, chemical preservatives, fumigants, artificial coloring and other additives that have later caused dog allergies and other health problems. Its manufacturing processes are so stringently controlled that Dynamite has a separate mill to produce feed for herbivores, such as horses and poultry that are especially sensitive to contamination from meat needed by other species such as dogs and cats.

Dynamite has manufacturing facilities in Idaho and Iowa.

Additional information on natural dog food and dog vitamin and mineral supplements is available at DynamiteSpecialty.com or by calling (800) 697-7434.

Entries will be accepted from December 9th through January 31st 2012, with one lucky price winner receiving a year's supply of free dog food!

Havahart® Wireless, leading producer of electric dog fences, and Spike their chocolate lab mascot, are excited to announce a sweepstakes that will help save you money while keeping your favorite canine well fed. Entries will be accepted from December 9th through January 31st 2012, with one lucky price winner receiving a year’s supply of free dog food!

“Havahart® Wireless loves dogs and we know that all dogs love their specific brand of quality dog food,” explained Andy Long, Category Development Manager. “For that reason we decided to reward one lucky canine with a year’s supply of the dog food of his or her choice.”

To enter for your chance to win, please visit http://www.havahartwireless.com/free-dog-food-contest. Only one entry per person will be accepted, multiple entries will disqualify all entries for that entrant, no purchase is necessary to enter. All terms and conditions are posted on the sweepstakes page for review.

Spike will be randomly selecting a winner on February 1, 2012. The winner will be notified via email. Total price value is up to $250, the equivalent of 160lbs of dog food for the year!

About Havahart® Wireless
After 8 years of research Havahart® Wireless and its partners successfully develops the latest generation in wireless dog fence technology with an instant circular dog fence that expands up to a 400 foot radius and the world's first wireless dog fence that shapes to any yard. Both systems are designed to address the consumer's need for a reliable, user-friendly, economical fencing solution capable of providing an extended dog roaming area not found in the industry today. Havahart® Wireless brings an unparalleled level of technical sophistication to the wireless dog fencing industry that's groundbreaking without breaking ground.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Another dog food recalled by a company named DeRidder-based O'Neal's Feeders Supply Inc. from Deridder, LA which is recalling their Arrow Brand dog food because it had levels of aflatoxin from the corn used in the dog food.

Aflatoxin is a chemical produced by several Aspergillus fungi, primarily Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, under certain conditions when they grow in ears or on grain. These fungi also cause ear rots, but their presence does not always mean aflatoxin contamination.

Looking at this photo you can only wonder how many other companies use stuff like this in your pets food.

So if you have happened to purchased this dog food with a manufactured date between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 1, 2011that was sold in Louisiana and Texas please bring it back to where you purchased it. Their phone number is (337)463-8665 if you need to call them.

The program, in which celebrities from all walks of life lend their name to Best Friends Animal Society’s national work on behalf of homeless pets, is in full swing with the introduction of its own web site and ambassadors will be at work on many projects in 2012.

Best Friends Animal Society, one of America’s best known animal welfare organizations, announces its new Acclaimed Ambassadors program featuring celebrities amping up their star power on behalf of homeless pets everywhere.

The program, in which celebrities from all walks of life lend their name to Best Friends' national work on behalf of homeless pets, is in full swing with the introduction of its own web site and ambassadors will be at work on many projects in 2012.

“From the time we started working in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, we have had the support of many people in the entertainment industry,” said Silva Battista, a co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society. “In our new Acclaimed Ambassadors program we have a formal platform through which our celebrity friends can show their support for our mission.

"Best Friends Acclaimed Ambassadors are involved in many aspects of the organization’s outreach programs, as well as visiting and volunteering at our sanctuary for homeless pets in southern Utah. They also help us promote timely issues through social media sites.”

Typical of the celebrities' activities is is the recently released “I Believe” television public service announcement (PSA) starring actors Lisa Edelstein and James Avery and singer/musicians Travis Clark and Emmylou Harris, all of whom speak out on behalf of the animals. The PSA recently made its debut in selected markets and will continue to be circulated during the holiday season.

Another example of a celebrity helping Best Friends spread a message of animal kindness was a recent article in Rolling Stone Magazine about singer/songwriter Willie Nelson’s open letter to the residents of Ohio. Nelson wrote a letter to the Ohio legislature to show support for Ohio House Bill 14, which would reverse a law that declares certain dog breeds inherently vicious while strengthening associated laws targeting irresponsible dog owners.

In the past year, Travis Clark of the “We the Kings” rock band appeared in a humorous video PSA as part of the organization’s “Invisible Dogs” campaign, designed to get people thinking about the homeless dogs in local shelters waiting to be seen and adopted.

Actress Rachelle Lefevre has served as spokesperson for Best Friends’ puppy mill initiatives including this PSA. New York-based actor Kevin Conway, who manages his own community cat colony, did a PSA on behalf the organization's efforts to help free-roaming cats.

Following is the complete list of Best Friends Animal Society Acclaimed Ambassadors:

About Best Friends Animal Society®:
Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation.

Friday, December 9, 2011

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW – www.ifaw.org) announced today that 29 wolf dogs were rescued from a substandard breeding facility in Palmer, Alaska. Staff and volunteers from the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center (LARC – www.lockwoodarc.org) worked with the Alaska State Special Prosecutor to take possession of the animals living with inadequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. After two days of veterinary work, the team will transport the wolf dogs more than 3,000 miles to their new home at the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in Frazier Park, California.

The wolf dogs were being housed individually held by eight-foot chains around their necks. According to reports, the owners fed them only once every four days and, once winter set in, left them to drink out of the soiled fallen snow. Many of the animals exhibited signs of dehydration and open sores around the necks.

"It is absolutely heart-wrenching to see animals living in substandard conditions like this," said Gail A'Brunzo, IFAW Emergency Relief Officer. "In nature, wolves travel 30-50 miles in a day so it's no surprise to see how miserable they were chained-up like that. They are genetically wired to be wild," said A'Brunzo. "This case shows again how thoughtlessness and inadequate care results in terrible suffering for animals."

The rescue effort underway in Alaska involves a team of four veterinarians, an oral surgeon, numerous veterinary technicians and a host of volunteers working day and night to sterilize the wolf-dogs and provide much-needed medical care before the journey south.

"This is LARC's most labor-intensive rescue so far, it has taken weeks of intense work by many people and we can't wait to take these wolf dogs back to our sanctuary and provide them the kind of life they deserve", said Dr. Lorin Linder, LARC President and Co-founder.

Wolf dogs (also known as wolf-dog hybrids) are, like the name implies, part wolf and part dog. Increasingly, people are breeding wolf dogs to be sold as pets. In North America, there are an estimated 300,000 wolf dogs and 1,500 federally regulated pure wolves living in captivity.

"Wolf dogs pose significant behavioral challenges for owners. They can dig, jump or chew out of conventional containment with ease. This sadly results in a large population of unwanted animals who wind up chained in backyards, abandoned or euthanized," said A'Brunzo.

Upon learning of the situation, IFAW stepped-in and provided new enclosures to ensure that all 29 wolf dogs will spend the rest of their days in a suitable environment.

The Lockwood Animal Rescue Center is located on 20 acres in the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County, California. The 29 rescued wolf dogs will set off from Anchorage, Alaska on Sunday, December 11 and expect to arrive to sanctuary on the 14th. LARC is currently home to 16 wolf dogs. This is the second time IFAW and LARC have collaborated in a rescue; earlier this year four wolf dogs were moved to the sanctuary in California from a bankrupt sanctuary in Texas.

About IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Founded in 1969, IFAW saves animals in crisis around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW rescues individual animals, works to prevent cruelty to animals, and advocates for the protection of wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.ifaw.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Yet another class action was filed this week in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, in the District of New Jersey, against a manufacturer of "Spot-On" Flea and Tick products, neurotoxin pesticides placed directly on the skin of millions of household dogs and cats across the United States.

There is a growing sense of moral outrage and alarming statistics from consumers and pet advocates alike after over 75,000 complaints about the products have been reported to the EPA and nothing has been done to change the advertising, marketing or labeling of the products to alert pet owners of the possible serious side-effects. What's chilling is that those numbers only reflect what has been reported, the actual number of incidents may be much, much higher.

"Spot-On" products generally do not say in their advertising or marketing or even EPA mandated labeling that the products may cause death or other serious side-effects, including paralysis, seizures and ulcerated skin lesions. Consumers are largely unaware of these possibilities when applying the products to their dogs and cats.

Michael Green of Green & Associates, LLC, one of the attorneys that filed the New Jersey class actions, stated, "I've received a number of phone calls from pet owners in the middle of the night, where they are traumatized after their dog or cat has just died in their arms after they placed these pesticides on them. These are innocent pets who were trusting their owner to do the right thing for them. The owners are horrified to think that they gave their pet something that killed them, often in an excruciatingly painful way. Most tragic are those stories where the owner had one pet die only to put it on another pet after being assured there was no connection to the product and have that pet die also. I've gotten a few of those calls too. Unfortunately, the law treats our dogs and cats as just chattel, but if you ask any of these pet owners whose pet died, their dog or cat was a member of their family."

Sold By Major Retailers and Veterinarians

The "Spot-On" tick and flea business is estimated to be an $8 billion a year industry with the products primarily sold by veterinarians and pet store retailers such as PetCo and PetSmart.

This week, PetArmor, a new "Spot-On" flea and tick product for dogs and cats, is being served with the complaint filed against it. PetArmor was launched on April 20, 2011 in a press conference with the ASPCA. The product has been featured in television ads and is sold in major retailer WalMart. It is described by the manufacturer, FidoPharm, as containing the same active ingredients as Frontline, a well-known veterinarian recommended product.

Other "Spot-On" products sued in the class actions in New Jersey, beginning in January 2010, include Frontline, manufactured by Merial Limited, and those manufactured and sold by the other major animal pharmaceutical corporations Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc., Hartz Mountain Corporation, Bayer Healthcare, LLC, Farnum Companies, Wellmark International, Inc. and Summit VetPharm, LLC.

"Spot-On" Flea and Tick products are now recommended for virtually all dogs and cats, no matter the locale or specific risk. The Spot-On industry and vets who profit in the billions of dollars have not been called to account as to whether the risk vs. benefits really necessitate that common household pets across this country, and the children and other humans in these households, need to be exposed to these pesticides and neurotoxins 24/7. Studies have shown that the pesticides are detectible on the hands after petting.

EPA Complaints

Over 75,000 complaints to the EPA have been made since 2008 regarding these products including complaints of death and other serious side-effects even without a centralized poison reporting center, something the Humane Society is now calling for. In April of 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an advisory and reported that there was a noticeable increase in the number of adverse pet reactions involving the "Spot-On" pesticides which act as neurotoxins.

Nexus Between ASPCA and "Spot-On" Industry

FidoPharm enlisted the aid of the ASPCA in launching an awareness of their "Spot-On" product PetArmor. However, the class action complaint alleges a nexus of relationships between executives of the "Spot-On" product manufacturers and the ASPCA, heretofore known to the public as a non-profit entity established to prevent cruelty to animals.

The ASPCA has selected FidoPharm as its official tick and flea sponsor in its adoption centers and clinics. FidoPharm in turn has donated product and $100,000 to the ASPCA. John Preston, the current chairman of FidoPharm's parent, was the founding executive of Merial, the maker of Frontline.

Dr. Steven R. Hanson, the Senior Vice President and head of the ASPCA's Poison Control Center, where adverse reports of "Spot-On" products may be made, is a former director of Wellmark. Hartz is a corporate donor to the ASPCA and named Dr. Hanson "Veterinarian of the Year." The complaint alleges that calls into the Poison Control Center regarding Hartz "Spot-On" products are redirected to Hartz, allowing Hartz to directly manage any of these adverse events.

In addition, the ASPCA has a for-profit arm, APCC Consulting Services, that provides professional services to animal pharmaceutical corporations, including consultation on product liability. Hartz has been a client of the APCC.

Finally, the ASPCA in a press release, in response to the 2009 EPA advisory regarding "Spot-On" products, quoted Dr. Hanson as stating the products should continue to be used.

The plaintiffs of the class actions allege that the pesticides in the "Spot-On" products cause death, paralysis, seizures and skin lesions to their pets and that these adverse affects are not stated in the advertising or marketing to pet owners.

More information regarding the class action lawsuits filed against FidoPharm and others may be obtained at www.spotoncomplaints.com

Delray Beach Executive and philanthropist Arthur E. Benjamin and American Dog Rescue (ADR) also headquartered in Dallas and Salt Lake City, with various projects spread coast-to-coast, quickly reacted from Fort Lauderdale to this morning's TODAY Show Segment where the Humane Society of the United States exposed retail establishments whose inventory is supplied by puppy mills. Drawing attention to America and its worst offending states, the program highlights the unfair treatment of animals sold throughout retail stores and several hundred internet websites.

While revealing the heartbreaking deception behind puppy mill dogs, ADR plans to implement massive efforts uncovered by the HSUS in cracking down on an industry which perpetuates a cycle of animal cruelty. The much needed spotlight was made possible by HSUS and Benjamin continues to emphasize that Congress needs to act immediately. Divulging the grim connection between puppy mills and pet stores and all retail outlets throughout the United States is the focus of concern that keep puppy mills thriving.

The Humane Society of the United States released the results of its 3-month-long investigation into Purebred Breeders LLC, thought to be the nation's largest online seller of puppies. The investigation highlighted the connection between Purebred Breeders and inhumane commercial breeding facilities known as puppy mills. Undercover HSUS investigators obtained photographs and video footage of several large-scale commercial puppy mills that supply dogs to Purebred Breeders for re-sale. This footage reveals dogs in stacked wire cages, empty water bowls, excessive build-up of feces under cages, and other unsanitary conditions typical of puppy mills.

The HSUS investigation found that Purebred Breeders owns nearly 800 Web domains designed to mislead consumers into believing that they are dealing with local breeders when they shop online for a puppy. Whistleblowers working for the company told HSUS investigators that the company sells approximately 20,000 puppies every year, using hard-sell, deceptive tactics encouraged by company executives. Puppies purchased through Purebred Breeders are never seen by sales personnel even though they routinely guarantee the health of these animals who are often flown long distances directly from the breeding facility to the consumer.

"It's devastating to know that we live in a country that allows these establishments to continue to feed our economy at the expense of defenseless animals," said Benjamin. "ADR works tirelessly to stop businesses that contribute to puppy mills and the suffering of countless dogs, and bring awareness to states like Florida who are among the worst offending states."

With an estimated 10,000 puppy mill facilities in the U.S., hundreds of thousands of dogs are bred and housed in unsanitary conditions with little or no medical care, exercise, socialization, or human interaction; countless animals have died. Benjamin's mission remains to educate the American people not to buy, but to adopt a pet.

For more information about the ADR efforts throughout the United States and worldwide, please visit www.americandogrescue.org.

American Dog Rescue (ADR) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to finding a home for every adoptable dog in the United States. American Dog Rescue is committed to placing healthy dogs in permanent homes that are the right fit for the animal and its family. Donations can be made by visiting www.americandogrescue.org/donate or calling (888) 262-4753.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily retrieved a single production lot of dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. This product has already been retrieved from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.

Product affected by this announcement:Product Name
Version

Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013
7.0 lb bag

The affected product lot was distributed to a limited number of retailers located in the eastern United States (AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA). These retailers have already removed this product from store shelves. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

While no health effects related to this product have been reported, P&G retrieved this product as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased the product listed should stop using the product and discard it and contact Iams at the number below for a replacement voucher. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. Pets which have consumed this product and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

For further information or a product replacement or refund contact P&G toll-free at 866-908-1569
(Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST) or www.iams.com.

Monday, December 5, 2011

"Animal Rights" Activists Aim to Eliminate All Dog and Cat Breeding in Texas

Their crosshairs are on purposeful breeding and sales of purebred dogs and cats in the U.S. as the "first step" of their extreme agenda.

Under the guise of emotional rhetoric to eliminate "Puppymills," Texas HB 1451 was pushed through the 2011 Texas Legislative Session by senior ranking members Rep. Senfronia Thompson and Senator John Whitmire and signed into law by Governor Rick Perry June 17. The bill mandates Texas dog and cat breeders with more than 10 Intact Female Animals (over 6 months) be licensed and comply with federal USDA regulations for minimum standards with requirements impossible to meet in a home environment. The newly appointed Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation's Breeders License Committee is tasked with writing more rules with enforcement to begin September 1, 2012.

Bill proponents Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Texas Humane Legislation Network and ASPCA held a joint Lobby Day at the Capitol last legislative session. For HSUS President Wayne Pacelle this is a national agenda to legislate pet ownership out of existence. He stated as much in May of 1993: "One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." HSUS operates no animal shelters and only 1% of their $126 million budget goes to local shelters. Texas Humane Legislation Network President Cile Holloway reminded members of their goal to "Get anything passed and come back later."

Senator Whitmire says he's bringing HB 1451 back for the next Legislative Session.

HB 1451 goes far beyond reasonable requirements for humane care and confinement of animals -- exceeding existing standards for city pounds, nonprofit animal shelters and veterinary clinics. The bill states: "The standards adopted must at a minimum meet federal regulations for humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation set forth in 9C.F.R. Part 3, Subpart A in the Animal Welfare Act." HSUS failed to get a federal bill passed in 2005 to bring every dog and cat breeder in the U.S. under the Animal Welfare Act and vowed to take their campaign to the states.

Responsible Pet Owners Alliance, American Kennel Club, and many other animal welfare organizations opposed HB 1451 which authorizes third party inspectors' warrantless entry to homes, unannounced inspections without owner on premises, criminal background checks, payment to "snitches" for anonymous information, excessive license fees to cover all administration and enforcement costs, public listing of breeder licensed facilities and more. Public listing of licensed breeders will undoubtedly lead to harassment from "animal rights" extremists who harbor a deep hatred for all dog and cat shows and hobby breeders.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

The main question is why these two hunters would shoot two German Shepherds named Devaki and Makita. These two dogs happened to run into the woods looking for something they heard and then the dog's owner Shannon Hautala gun shots on which she came across the two hunters who said that they didn't see the dogs.

But the next day Shannon Hautala said: We asked them if they shot them, and one of the hunters admitted it and said they have a right to shoot anything that came on their property. And after finding her dogs Shannon Hautala said: My dogs crawled through the woods with wounds and lay in the woods all night long and suffered, and they didn't even have the decency to either tell me that she was there, or to go in the woods and finish it themselves.

Now how cruel is that to just let the dogs die like that after they shot them for no reason.

Just a side note: Old PETA is at it again but this time there line is : If you wouldn't eat your dog, why eat a turkey? So now they are trying to ruin Thanksgiving for kids in Utah with billboards being placed by schools.

Things like this is why I removed their banner from my blog. Sorry if I offended any one my I'm allowed my option.

The Co President of the San Francisco SPCA named Dr. Jennifer Scarlett has said that three puppies were being treated for parvovirus from the Occupy SF protest area. And there might be even more dogs running around with the virus.

A spokesperson for the SF SPCA named Krista Maloney said: There were also dogs at the camp that showed symptoms of two other diseases: kennel cough and giardia.

So what are they going to do now whit all these dogs running around though out the protest area passing on all these virus and disease's.

I was reading an article done by the I Team in CT that did an article about bulletproof vest for dogs and their story was about a company called Connecticut Vest a Dog which is being questioned on where all the money went that was suppose to buy these vest for dogs.

The article was good but after reading the comments from people from the company past and present it seems to be getting heated up on who did what. I will say that it's a must read if you have ever donated any money to help buy one of these vest for a dog.

Then you have a sick o named Kenneth I. Milosavich from Pueblo, NM who has been arrested for sexually assaulting a dog. This sick o will be having a lot of different charges being filed against him when he was arrested by the Pueblo police.

A new diagnostic kit which takes the uncertainty out of lymphoma diagnosis, has been launched at the Veterinary Cancer Society's annual conference this month.

Developed by PetScreen (http://www.pet-screen.com) in the UK, the announcement is a significant breakthrough in the diagnosis of canine lymphoma with the major benefit being that it is able to differentiate between patients with lymphadenopathy due to lymphoma and lymphadenopathy due to other ailments such as lymphoid hyperplasia.

The announcement also signals a partnership and commercial venture between PetScreen Ltd and Tridelta Development Ltd to jointly develop manufacture and market a unique range of veterinary cancer diagnostic kits under the banner of 'Tri-Screen' (http://www.tri-screen.net). PetScreen has established the first reference laboratory offering the Advanced Lymphoma Blood Test (ALBT) utilising the Tri-Screen Canine Lymphoma assay kit. The kit is available now to enable laboratories worldwide to offer veterinarians this advanced testing system.

For the past two years, PetScreen's research team have been busy characterising and identifying the biomarkers used in their earlier lymphoma blood test. They found that two of the markers are Acute Phase Proteins (APP's). Although APP's have been investigated in veterinary medicine for some time PetScreen has developed a unique multi-marker approach which led to the development of patented and copyrighted analytical algorithms which combine the relative values of both Haptoglobin and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in serum.

By enlisting the support of vets in the UK and USA the assay has been rigorously tested with 194 canine patients with lymphoma, benign lymphoid hyperplasia and other diseases with similar presentation to lymphoma as well as healthy dogs.

By testing the acute phase proteins using immunoassay, PetScreen achieved excellent levels of high performance, reproducibility and objectivity. The combination of the three diagnostic elements enables differentiation with a very high degree of sensitivity and specificity … ensuring an appropriate treatment regimen can begin at a critical early stage of disease identification and development.

In order to make this available to a global reference laboratory market, a partner with a unique understanding of APP diagnostic kit manufacture and marketing was required … it quickly became apparent that Tridelta's reputation and experience with the international pharmaceutical industry in this niche sector qualified their preferred partner status. Each company brings its own strengths to the Tri-Screen brand of diagnostic kits. For Tridelta it is an important step into the companion animal marketplace; for PetScreen, the opportunity to globalise and advance their veterinary diagnostics expertise in this important and rapidly emerging sector.

The AAVMC Salutes the Canine Heroes Who Served the Country at Home and at War - and the Veterinarians Who Continue To Keep Them Healthy

Dr. Bess Pierce at VMRCVM is one such veterinarian

On Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, it's timely to consider that it's not only humans who serve in our nation's military. There are also more than 2,500 military working dogs (MWDs) on duty worldwide and Colonel Bess Pierce, DVM, DABVP, DACVIM, associate professor at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM), is one of the veterinarians responsible for their care. MWDs train alongside soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines; they also might parachute out of planes and accompany Special Forces soldiers on dangerous and secret missions.

Photo by the PR Newswire

It's a career that aligns well with Dr. Pierce's long-held interest in canine sports medicine and conditioning for all working dogs, either as a part of their intense physical conditioning or for rehabilitation of injuries.

Pierce explains that, in addition to fulfilling their roles as military service dogs, canines work closely with law enforcement agencies and the Transportation Safety Administration to detect drugs or explosives. Almost all working dogs receive scent training and assignments might include everything from a presidential detail to search and rescue or border patrol, with most dogs involved in explosives detection. Pierce says that working dogs are capable of tracking target odors for either an object or a person, and that the lowest known level of a scent tag detected by a dog is 500 parts per trillion.

After graduating with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree (DVM) from Auburn University in 1992, Pierce joined the Army Veterinary Corp, which is responsible for military dogs' veterinary medical care and conditioning across all branches of the military. During the 15 years she spent on active duty, Pierce worked with MWDs in many parts of the world and, from 2003 to 2006, served as chief of internal medicine at the Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service (DODMWDVS) at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Since then, the veterinary facilities have expanded into an area known as "Dog Center" at Lackland, where Veterinary Corp officers (VCOs) work closely with a U.S. Air Force unit that is primarily responsible for the dogs' training. Now a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, Pierce works with military canines as the reserve director of the DODMWDVS at the Holland Military Dog Working Hospital, a "state-of-the-art facility that offers every possible treatment," where she also helps establish and maintain policy related to U.S. military working dogs worldwide. At the same time, in her civilian job as a VMRCVM faculty member, Pierce and the community practice team provide care for a variety of working and service dogs.

Dr. Pierce explains that the military screens and chooses working dogs in a manner akin to how it chooses elite soldiers, selecting those with suitable temperaments and physical characteristics. They're looking for healthy, athletic dogs that are not fearful or easily startled. The dogs also need to have a particularly acute sense of smell and demonstrate that they have the heart and the drive to work hard. "These dogs love to work and they're miserable when they don't have a job to do," she says.

About 26 percent of working dogs are Belgian Malinois, about 46 percent are German shepherds, and the remaining are Labrador Retrievers, German short-haired pointers or other breeds. Malinois are particularly favored for military missions that require high maneuverability and heat tolerance. Malinois have a "legendary work capacity and drive," says Pierce, and their lean body mass makes them light and portable. "They're long and lean, like marathon runners."

In the past, working dogs were primarily assigned to teams or units with rotating handlers, but today's trend is to pair dogs with single handlers and deploy as a team, she says, depending on the dog's function. "We try to match personalities. Like with any relationship sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. When it does work, the dogs and their handlers often form a very intense bond."

With so much time and training invested in the dogs, it makes sense to keep working dogs as healthy as possible. Consequently, in her role, Dr. Pierce practices some of the most advanced veterinary medical care available. "We owe it to (the dogs) for their service," she says, "and they receive a very high level of preventive and rehabilitative care."

Those who aspire to have a veterinary medical career that involves working with military dogs can consider joining the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps and can apply for the Health Professions Scholarship Program, which offers a competitive scholarship for students who are willing to commit to military service. At the time Pierce attended veterinary medical school, the scholarship program was not available to veterinary students but a fellow Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)-scholarship recipient introduced her to the Veterinary Corps. After being commissioned as a VCO, Pierce specialized in small animal internal medicine through the Long Term Health Education and Training (LTHET) Program, the Army's competitive advanced training program that often includes clinical residencies, pathology residency, doctorates or Masters of Public Health (MPH).

"Vet Corps officers work with military working dogs from day one of their careers, and I had MWDs at every assignment," Pierce says. But she points out that Vet Corp service is about more than animal care and health, with officers also involved in public health and food safety and inspection.

According to Pierce, the best preparation for a student interested in serving the working dog population is to gain a solid foundation in a range of disciplines, including surgery, medicine, radiology, emergency medicine, and dentistry. "While my veterinary college did not have specific training in working and service dog medicine and care, Auburn did provide an excellent foundation in both theory and practical hands-on training that enabled me to successfully apply these skills to working dogs once on duty," she says. Pierce gained the remainder of her training through on-the -job experience, mentoring, and continuing educational opportunities in sports medicine and rehabilitation.

Other opportunities exist in a variety of settings to care for law enforcement and service dogs such as guide dogs or search and rescue dogs; interested students may want to augment their education with education in canine behavior and sports medicine, as well as with on-the-job training through internships or externships.

Dr. Pierce relishes the rewards of her profession. In an essay titled, "In Praise of the Working Dog," she wrote, "I would encourage anyone to embrace the opportunity to become involved whenever possible. There are those who are concerned that dogs are 'forced' into service and unduly stressed. Worry not. When properly trained, managed, and appreciated, the happiest creature in the world is a dog with a job."

A working dog's career usually lasts seven or eight years. In the past, attack-trained military dogs were euthanized at the end of their useful working life if they could not be placed with a state or municipal law enforcement agency. Non-attack trained dogs were routinely adopted. Today, by law, all military working dogs are evaluated for potential adoption and any MWD found suitable for adoption is adopted. Go to www.lackland.af.mil/units/341stmwd/index.asp to learn more about the MWD program and how to adopt a former military working dog.

The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) is a non-profit membership organization working to protect and improve the health and welfare of animals, people and the environment by advancing academic veterinary medicine. Its members include all 33 veterinary medical colleges in the United States and Canada, nine departments of veterinary science, eight departments of comparative medicine, three veterinary medical education institutions, nine international colleges of veterinary medicine, and five affiliate international colleges of veterinary medicine. On the Web: http://www.aavmc.org

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